The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) updated its guidance for health professionals regarding the role of DHA in the prevention of preterm and early preterm birth. This is the first time the agency has publicly promoted DHA supplementation for this purpose.

Clinical studies have found a link between long-chain omega-3s and a reduced risk of preterm birth. The new guidance recommends that women of childbearing age consume at least 250 mg per day of DHA plus EPA

Most women fall short of these recommendations. “When combined with EPA, the total average daily intake of DHA plus EPA from food is 78.7 mg and the average daily intake from food and supplements is 97.7 mg,” the guidance states.

ODS added that the authors of a 2024 clinical practice guideline stated that intakes of up to 1,000 mg per day of DHA or DHA and EPA do not raise safety concerns in pregnant women, especially those at risk for preterm birth.

ODS stated that randomized, controlled trials have not shown consistent benefits from maternal omega-3 supplementation on the cognitive or visual development of infants, they have shown a link to reduced preterm or early preterm birth.

The agency also highlighted a 2022 statement from the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL) that included two large trials that were published after the 2018 Cochrane review which supported a relationship between DHA and preterm birth.

The ISSFAL statement noted a 12% reduction in the risk of preterm birth and a 35% reduction in the risk of early preterm birth among those taking omega-3 supplements.

“This is an important step forward since a major agency of the U.S. government has finally officially recognized that a marine omega-3, DHA, can reduce risk for a human health condition, preterm birth,” said Bill Harris, PhD, FAHA, president of the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI). “Hopefully, this will open the door for other agencies to make specific omega-3 recommendations for other conditions.”

“We are happy to see the recommendation for the use of omega-3s in pregnancy by the Office of Dietary Supplements,” said Kristina Harris Jackson, PhD, RD, director of research for OmegaQuant Analytics. “Our goal is to help clinicians and individuals implement these recommendations to help move the needle on improving pregnancy outcomes for women in the U.S. and worldwide.”

Several years ago, OmegaQuant launched tests that measured prenatal DHA and mother’s milk DHA concentrations to help women measure, modify, and monitor their DHA statuses. Because many factors influence one’s DHA status, tracking intake alone may not be enough to verify that you’re receiving the optimal amount, the company noted.

“We believe women should not only be interested in their intake of this important nutrient but equally so when it comes to knowing their blood or milk level of DHA. That’s why we highly encourage women to make sure they measure their DHA level before, during, and after pregnancy,” Jackson said.